Project Manager

Milton-Keynes-Council; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday benefits

Local pension scheme

Family-friendly policies

Health plan & discounts

Car salary sacrifice

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead and deliver multiple complex projects within Children’s Services. The role is site-based in Milton Keynes, with the flexibility to work from home up to two days per week as needed.

Interviews are planned for early October 2026. You will work across SEND improvement, Best Start in Life and education reform programs, coordinating with partners, boards and stakeholders to achieve outcomes that benefit children and families

Qualifications

• Prince2/PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent qualification.
• Degree-level education or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Proven experience delivering multiple complex projects from planning through to successful outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration with others.
• Experience managing budgets, deadlines and competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multiple projects from initiation to delivery with clear plans and timelines.
• Work with sponsors, boards and stakeholders to provide updates, advice and recommendations.
• Develop and maintain project plans, documentation and governance processes.
• Define delivery approaches, manage resources and implement change and communication plans.
• Identify, assess and mitigate risks, issues and dependencies with proper mitigation.
• Manage budgets, suppliers and project teams while building strong internal and external relationships.

Skills

Project management certification

Analytical thinking

Effective communication

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Degree or equivalent in a relevant field

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Closing Date:

27/09/2026

Job Category:

Children's Services

Service Area:

Children's Services- Special Education Needs & Disabilities

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32days after five years.In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Roles are either ‘site based’ or ‘home based’.

Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs.

Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week.

The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.

Job Introduction

Join our growing Project Management team in Children's Services at Milton Keynes City Council and help shape the future of services for children, young people and families.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead complex and high-profile projects that make a real difference to people's lives. You'll work with colleagues, partners and stakeholders across the organisation to plan and deliver transformational change, ensuring projects are well managed, achieve their objectives and create lasting benefits for our communities. You'll be trusted to take projects from concept through to delivery, managing priorities, risks, resources and budgets while helping teams navigate change successfully.

Our Project Managers play a vital role in delivering some of the most significant programmes across Children's Services. You'll lead strategic, time-limited projects that support service improvement and organisational change, including major social care and education reforms such as SEND improvement, Best Start in Life, the Child-Led Families First agenda, and school organisation projects involving new, expanded or reconfigured educational provision. Through your expertise, you'll help ensure these programmes deliver positive outcomes for children, families and communities across Milton Keynes.

Site-Based role

This is a Site-Based role, and you’ll be expected to work from the designated workplace.

Interviews for this role will be held on 6th and 7th October 2026

We’re building a team that’s focused on making a real difference across our local area. Working with partners, services and communities, you’ll help bring people together, drive collaboration and support improvements that have a lasting impact.

In this role, you’ll play an important part in delivering key priorities, helping shape better experiences and outcomes while ensuring our work stays aligned with both local needs and national expectations. It’s a chance to be part of meaningful, system-wide change where your contribution really matters.

If you’re interested in finding out more, we’d welcome your interest. For an informal chat before applying, please contact the team via - [e-mail]

• Lead and manage multiple projects from initiation to delivery, ensuring clear plans, timelines and successful outcomes.
• Work closely with project sponsors, boards and stakeholders to provide updates, advice and recommendations.
• Develop and maintain project plans, documentation and governance processes to ensure quality and compliance.
• Define delivery approaches, manage resources and implement change and communication plans.
• Identify, assess and manage risks, issues and dependencies, ensuring appropriate mitigation is in place.
• Manage budgets, suppliers and project teams while building strong relationships with internal and external partners.

Ideal Candidate

• A recognised project management qualification such as Prince two Foundation or equivalent, supported by strong technical knowledge.
• Educated to degree level or demonstrating equivalent experience within a relevant field.
• Proven experience managing and delivering multiple complex projects from planning through to successful outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work through complex challenges and deliver results.
• Effective communication skills, including presenting complex information clearly and working collaboratively with others.
• Confidence managing competing priorities, budgets and deadlines while maintaining quality and accuracy.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council, see attached.